Picker stick check for looms



Dec. 26, 1950 'F. A. RITCHIE 2,535,814

PICKER STICK CHECK FOR LOOMS Filed July 21, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l FRANKLIN A. 12/70/415, INVENTOR.

Dec. 26, 1950 F. A. RITCHIE PICKER STICK CHECK FOR Filed July 21, 1949 LOOMS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5o Z4 P I I -E.

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/ I ATTORNEY Dec. 26, 1950 F. A. RITCHIE 2,535,814

PICKER sncx CHECK FOR LOOMS Filed July 21, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet s 00 i FRANKLIN ALE/TCHIE, 1 INVENTOR.

LQ BY "3 u g g Q 3! 0 ATTORNEIY Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PICKER 'sT-IoK CHECK FOR LooMs Franklin in Ritchie, Charlotte, N. 0. Application July 21, 1949, Serial No. 105,919 2 Claims. (01. ism-164) This invention relates to a loom and more especially to an improved picker stick check therefor adapted to be secured to the lay, at opposite ends thereof, and having means for frictionally engaging the picker stick upon the shuttle being thrown into the corresponding shuttle box and having other means to release the pressure of the friction means against the picker stick immediately before the picker stick again throws the shuttle out of the corresponding shuttle box and across the lay.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a picker stick check comprising a :fixed friction member or check shoe and a spring loaded friction member between which the picker stick is adapted to move upon a shuttle being thrown into a corresponding shuttle box, to thus frictionally hold the picker stick in its outermost position and to prevent the shuttle from rebounding upon moving into the shuttle box.

It is another object of this invention to provide means automatically operable in timed relation to the picking mechanism of the loom, for releasing the picker stick check from engagement with the picker stick to permit the return stroke thereof, said means for releasing the picker stick being controlled by means mounted on the cam shaft of the loom.

It is still another object of this invention to provide means for moving the spring loaded friction means out of engagement with the picker stick immediately before the return stroke of the picker stick, said means comprising a cam wheel fixedly mountedon the cam shaft of the loom and being positioned thereon relative to the conventional picker cam so as to transmit oscillatory motion to a lever arm, in timed relation to movement of the picker stick. This lever arm has one end of a, link connected to an outturned portion of a, shaft having means on one end thereof for engaging and moving the spring loaded friction member out of engagement with the picker stick in timed relation to movement of the pick cam into engagement with the picker tiek operating means for effecting the return stroke of the picker stick as in throwing the shuttle across the lay.

some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a loom, showing various parts schematically and illustrating the cam controlled means for the picker stick check;

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view with parts in section taken along the line 2 2 in Fig- 'ure 1 and showing the cam means and lever :assoe ciated therewith for controlling the picker stick check;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation showing the loom frame in cross section and is taken sub,- stantialiy along the line 3-3 in Figure 1 looking at the back of one of the shuttle boxes of the loom;

Figure 4 is an elevation looking at the front or opposite side of the shuttle b'ox shown in Fig- 'ure '3 and showing the manner in which. the stationary friction member is secured to the front of the shuttle box;

Figure 5 is an enlarged bottom view of the shuttle box with the improved picker stick check applied thereto and with parts in section and is taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged end elevation of the shuttle box looking along the line E-' -6 in Figure 3;

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical "sectional view taken along the line 'I--! in Figure 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral [0 indicates the right-hand side frame member of a loom, to the inner surface of which one end of girts II and I2 are connected in a conventional manner, the other ends of the girts H and I2 being connected to the lefthand side frame member not shown. The present invention is shown in association with the right-hand side of the loom only; however, it is to be understood that a similar apparatus may be mounted at the left han'd side of the loom and an illustration and description the structure of the left-hand side of the loom is deemed unnecessary.

The loom side frame member In also has one end of a conventional arch i4 and a breast beam l5 each connected at one end. to the loom side fraine member Ill. One end of a conventional rocker shaft [6 is oscillatabl mounted in the lower portion of the side frame member ID and has a sword I'I fixedly mounted thereon. The sword ll extends upwardly and has a lay 2i) and a reed cap f2! sec red thereto as by bolts 22 and 23, respectively (Figure '3). This particular type of sword I! has a vertically disposed plate portion 25 integral therewith which is also enetrated by a bolt 26 to further assist in securing the lay 20 to the sword l1.

The sword I! has a pitman arm shaft 27 fixedly mounted therein to which, in Figure 1, one

end of a conventional pitman arm 36! is oscillatably mounted. This pitman arm til extends rearwardly in Figure 1 and is oscillatably mounted on one of the crank throws of a conventional crank shaft 3|, one of the ends of which is rotatably mounted in a bearing block 32 secured, as by screws 33 to the side frame member lil. Rotation is transmitted to the crank shaft 35 by conventional means, not shown.

The lay 26 has a shuttle box, broadly designated at 36, on its outer end and since this end of the lay 2b is the end adjacent which the usual magazine and bobbin or quill transfer mechanism is mounted, the shuttle box 38 is constructed accordingly and the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in association therewith. It is manifest that the improved picker stick check device may, with slight modifications, be applied equally as well to a shuttle box which is not especially constructed to accommodate the usual quill transfer mechanism of a loom.

The shuttle box 36 comprises a conventional right-hand lay end 37 having a plate portion 38 integral therewith which is adapted to be secured to the lay 20 in a conventional manner. The right-hand end of a conventional picker stick guide M is secured, as by a screw 42, to the lay end 37 (Figure 4). The left-hand end of the picker stick guide 4! is secured to the lay 20 by the bolt 26 which also secures the sword I! to the lay 20. The picker stick guide M has a conventional quill chute 43 integral therewith and usually has a downwardly projecting portion id depending from the central portion thereof and which is adapted to assist in supporting the usual leather picker stick check strap but which, in this instance, is merely shown to illustrate that it is not necessary to remove this portion 44 when the improved picker stick check device is mounted on the loom.

The shuttle box 36 also comprises a front shuttle box plate 45 which is secured to the upper surface of the plate portion 38 of the lay end 3? as by screws 46. The shuttle box 36 has a back box plate 41, the right-hand end of which (Figure 3) is secured by a bolt to the sword ET. This back box plate 47 has a back box plate extension 5! integral therewith, the left-hand end of which is secured by a bolt 52 to the lay end 31. This bolt 52 also slidably penetrates the right-hand end portion of the lay 20 in Figure 4.

The back box plate extension 5! is spaced apart from the bottom plate 38 of the shuttle box 36 by conventional means and oscillatably mounted between the back box plate extension 5| and the plate 38 is the left-hand end of a conventional binder 54. The right-hand end of the binder 54, in Figure 3, is adapted to be urged toward the near surface of the back box plate 41 when a shuttle is boxed in the shuttle box 36.

A conventional binder spring 55 is secured to the shuttle box 36, as by screws 56, and its righthand free end, in Figure 3, bears against the rear surface of the binder 54. The shuttle box 36 has a longitudinally extending slot 68 therein (Figure 5) which is loosely penetrated by a conventional picker stick 6! which has reciprocatory movement therein by means to be later described. The upper end of the picker stick Si, in Figures 3 and 4, has a picker 63 thereon which is adapted to engage the usual shuttle, not shown, for throwing the shuttle across the lay and is also adapted to be engaged by the shuttle as the shuttle is thrown into the shuttle box 36. It is thus seen that the picker stick 6! will receive the impact of the shuttle as it is thrown across the lay.

The lower end of the picker stick Bl, in Figure 1, is mounted in a conventional manner, as at 64, on the outer end of the rocker shaft IS. A lug strap 65 connects the picker stick 6! to the lower end of a conventional stirrup 66 in the usual manner, and the upper end of the stirrup 66 in Figure 1 is secured, as by a bolt 6?, to a pick shaft H3. The pick shaft H3 is mounted for rocking movement on the outside of the side frame member In. The pick shaft 10 is provided with a pick bail H which usually rests upon and is actuated by a conventional pick cam 12. The pick cam 12 is fixedly mounted on a conventional cam shaft 13, one end of which is rotatably mounted in a bearing block M secured to the side frame member ID as by screws 15 (Figure 2).

This particular type of loom is provided with a lay guide it (Figures 1 and 3) which is spaced apart from the loom side frame member H) and is mounted on bolts El and 78 at its front and rear ends, respectively. The bolt Tl slidably penetrates the side frame member H] and is secured thereto as by lock nuts 8|. The bolt 18 at the rear of the lay guide l6 is secured, in the same manner as the bolt ill, to a lay guide support 83, which is in turn, secured as by a bolt 84 to the loom side frame member 55. slidably engaging opposed sides of the lay guide it are inner and outer lay guide followers 35 and 85 respectively. The lay guide followers 85 and 85 slidably engage the rear and front surfaces, respectively, of the sword ii, and are clampingly secured thereto as by bolts 28 (Figure 3) The parts heretofore described are conventional parts of a loom of a type such as is manu factured by the Draper Corporation and is known as a model 2 loom. It is to be understood, however, that this invention may be applied to any one of several types of looms. It is with these parts that this invention is adapted to be associated.

By referring to Figure 5, it will be observed that the picker stick 5! is in its outermost position, or in the position that it will occupy when the shuttle is boxed in the shuttle box 355. It will be further noted, that the picker stick 6!, upon moving into the position shown in Figure 5, moves between and is frictionally engaged by a stationary friction member or check shoe 9| at one side thereof and by a spring loaded friction member or check shoe 92 at the other side thereof. These check shoes SI and 92 may be of any desired material, however, it is preferred that they be made of a compressed fibrous material, a laminated plastic material, or, as shown in the drawings, of a hard wood material.

The stationary check shoe ii! is secured, as by screws 9%, to a cast bracket 94 having an off-set upwardly extending portion S5 integral therewith which is slidably penetrated by the screw 4-2 for securing the bracket 9-? to the picker stick guide ii. The bracket 9d also has an outwardly extending dovetailed ear 226 integral therewith which is adjustably secured to a dovetailed arm Ql', this arm 9f being a conventional part of the picker stick guide at. The arm 9'! and the ear portion 96 of the bracket G have coinciding adjustment slots HES therein which are slidably penetrated by a bolt liil' (Figure 6) for. adjustably securing the bracket 5 to the arm 91.

The bracket 9% also has a projection I63 thereon which is threadably penetrated by an adjustment screw [M which has a lock nut I535 threadably mounted thereon for locking the adjustment screw its in adjusted position. The free end of the adjustment screw is adapted to engage the front surface of a bracket 561 secured, as by screws I68 (Figure 6), to the free end of the spring loaded check shoe 32. The adjustment screw I64 is adjusted so as to hold the free end of the check shoe 62 in a predetermined spaced relation to the stationary check shoe BI when the picker stick 63 has moved away from between the check shoes Eli and 62.

The bra :et 50"! has a rearwardly and then an inwardly projecting ear H integral therewith which is engaged, by means to be later described, for moving the free end of the spring loaded check shoe 92 rearwardly and out of engagement with the picker stick 6i. It will be observed, in Figures and 7, that the spring loaded check shoe 62 is oscillatably mounted on a screw II i, there being a suitable bushing H2, secured as by a pressed fit, in the check shoe 62 and of the same vertical height as the check shoe 92. This bushing II 2 is slidably penetrated by a spacing sleeve I I3 of substantially greater vertical height than the bushing M2, the upper end of which bears againstthe lower surface of a boss portion i i of a bracket H5. This spacing sleeve H3 is slidably penetrated by the screw IIi which is also threadably imbedcled in the boss portion N4 of the bracket 3 I 5 to thus p-ivotally secure the spring loaded check shoelil z to the bracket I I5.

The boss portion E54 of the bracket H5 has a along the rear surface of the check shoe 02 to 3 thus urge the same forwardly at its free end in Figure 5 and into engagement with the picker stick 6i, when it is positioned between the check shoes 65 and 62.

The bracket H5 is substantially L-shaped in cross-section and its horizontal leg is secured as by a screw I to the lower surface of the lay 20, The vertical leg of the bracket I I5 has an inwardly extending portion i2! integral therewith, of substantially greater length than the horizontal leg of the bracket H5, and which gradually increases in height from left to right in Figure 3. The right-hand end of the portion I2I, in Figure 3, is also penetrated by the bolt 26 and is thus secured to the plate portion of the sword I1 by the bolt 26.

This bracket II5 has bearing portions I22 and I23 integral therewith in which a shaft I24 is oscillatably mounted. The left-hand end of the shaft I24 in Figures 3 and 5 extends beyond the bearing portion I22 of the bracket H5 and has a finger I21 adjustably secured thereon as by a set screw I28. This finger I21 extends downwardly and engages the inner surface of the ear portion H0 of the bracket I01 secured to the free end of the spring loaded check shoe 92.

Also extending downwardly from the bearing portion I22 of the bracket H5, and in substantially parallel relation to the finger I21, is a stop member I3I, which is engageable by the ear IIO to prevent the free end of the spring loaded check shoe 92 from moving inwardly beyond a predetermined point in the event the adjustment screw I 04 has been adjusted too far away from the rear surface of the check shoe 92.

The shaft I24 also extends beyond the bearing portion I23 of the bracket H5 and is then bent outwardly at right angles, as at I33, and has an arm I34 secured on the free end thereof as by a pressed fit. This arm I34 extends to the right in Figure 6 and is slidably penetrated by a later ally bent portion of a vertically disposed link rod I 36. The link rod I36 extends downwardly closely adjacent the inner surface of the m frame member I0 and passes between the lay guide 16 and the loom frame member I0. The lower end of the rod I36 has a laterally bent portion which slidably penetrates the free end of a lever arm I40. The lever arm I40 extends rearwardly, is bent inwardly, and then rearwardly again, at right angles, and is oscillatably mounted, intermediate its end, on a pin I4I fixedly mounted in a bracket I42. The bracket I42 extends upwardly and outwardly and is secured, as by bolts I43, to the loom side frame member I6.

The bracket I48 extends rear-wardly beyond its pivot point I42 and has a cam follower por tion I45 integral therewith, the rearmost end of which extends downwardly and rearwardly, at

- an angle as at I46, for purposes to be later described. This cam follower portion I45 of the lever arm I40 is adapted to be engaged by a cam wheel I 41 fixedly mounted on the cam shaft 13. The cam wheel I41 has a lobe portion 50 integral therewith which is so positioned on the cam shaft 13, relative to the high point of the conventional pick cam 12, so as to engage the cam follower portion I 45 of the lever arm I40 immediately before the pick cam 12 causes the pick ball 1| to be moved upwardly in Figure l which, as is well known to those familiar with the art, will cause the picker stick to move toward the center of the lay and to, in turn, throw the shuttle across the lay.

Method of operation Since the lobe I50 of the cam wheel I41 is positioned so as to engage the cam follower portion I45 of the lever arm I40 immediately before the pick ball 1! is engaged by the cam wheel 12, the spring loaded check shoe 92 will move rearwardly and thus out of engagement with the picker stick 6i at the period of operation of the loom when the shuttle is thrown out of the corresponding shuttle box. This movement of the spring loaded check shoe 92, out of engagement with the picker stick 6|, is effected by the lobe I50 moving the lever arm I40 in a counterclockwise direction in Figure l to thus cause the link I36 to move upwardly in Figures 1, 3 and 6.

It is manifest that upward movement of the link I36 in Figure 6 will cause the shaft I24 to move in a counterclockwise direction thus moving the lower end of the finger I21 outwardly in Figure 6. Since the finger I21 is in engagement with the portion H0 of the bracket I01, secured to the spring loaded check shoe 92, this will cause the spring loaded check shoe 92 to be moved outwardly or away from engagement with the picker stick 6 I.

Now, immediately upon the lobe I50 of the cam wheel I41 moving beyond and out of engagement with the cam follower portion I45 of the lever arm I40, the torsion spring H1 will then overcome the weight of the various movable parts of the picker stick check and will again move the spring loaded check shoe 92 toward the stationary check shoe 6! to thus condition the check shoes SI and 92 for reception of the picker stick 6| as the shuttle is again thrown across the lay and into the shuttle box 36. As the picker stick is moved between the stationary check shoe 9i and the spring loaded check shoe 92 it is manifest that this will cushion the impact of the picker stick and the shuttle as it is boxed in 7 the shuttle box 36 and the picker stick 6| will be retained by the check shoes 9! and 92 until the shuttle is further actuated for its return movement.

It is thus seen that I have provided an improved picker stick check for looms embodying means for checking the movement of the shuttle of the loom in one direction and having other means for releasing the check means, this releasing means being operable from the cam shaft of the loom and in closely timed relation to the movement of the picker stick in a shuttle throwing operation.

The portion M6 on the lever arm I40 is adapted to be engaged by the lobe I50 of cam wheel M1 when the cam shaft 13 is turned reversely, or in a counterclockwise direction in Figure 1. The cam shaft 13 is turned reversely by an operator as it is often necessary to back-up a loom for removing a shuttle from the lay and for many other reasons well known to those familiar with the art.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are em- .1

ployed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a loom having a lay and a shuttle and a picker stick for projecting the shuttle across the lay, said loom also having a cam shaft and a cam wheel thereon for controlling movement of the picker stick for projecting the shuttle across the lay, check means for the shuttle comprising a stationary check shoe and a spring loaded check shoe disposed in spaced relation to each other adjacent the path of travel of the picker stick and being engageable thereby as the shuttle is thrown against the picker stick, releasing means for the spring loaded check shoe operable through the cam shaft, said releasing means comprising an oscillatable shaft mounted intermediate its ends on the lay of the loom, a finger on one end of said oscillatable shaft and means on the spring loaded shoe for engaging said finger, a second cam wheel on said cam shaft and a mechanical connection between the second cam wheel on said shaft and the oscillatable shaft for transmitting movement to the oscillatable shaft in timed relation to movement of the picker stick from between the spring loaded check shoe and the stationary check shoe for moving the spring loaded check shoe out of engagement with one side of the picker stick.

2. In a structure according to claim 1, said mechanical connection between the oscillatable shaft and the second cam wheel on the cam shaft comprising a lever arm oscillatably mounted intermediate its ends, one end of the lever arm being engageable by the cam wheel on the cam shaft, a right angularly bent portion integral with the oscillatable shaft and a connecting rod extending from the free end of said lever arm to the right angularly bent portion of the oscillatable shaft, whereby, upon the high point of the second cam wheel on the cam shaft engaging the lever arm, the other end of the lever arm will be moved in such a manner as to cause the oscillatable shaft to move its associated finger outwardly and to move the corresponding spring loaded check shoe out of engagement with the picker stick.

FRANKLIN A. RITCHIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,924,187 Gordon Aug. 29, 1933 2,197,589 Newton Apr. 16, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 51,795 Switzerland June 9, 1910 

